The Canteen has unveiled a powerful billboard campaign at the iconic Turbo Island roundabout in Stokes Croft, delivering an urgent message to the city: "Independent venues are for life, not just for x'mas."
With 24.9% of grassroots music venues across the UK under threat of permanent closure, the message calls on Bristol residents to support their local independent venues before they're lost forever. The billboard goes live the same weekend, popular Be At One cocktail bar announces its closure.
The Canteen deliberately removed its own logo from the artwork, choosing to amplify the message over self-promotion.
Turbo Island and Stokes Croft have long been synonymous with Bristol's independent spirit and artistic expression. The neighbourhood already features numerous murals carrying support-local messages, making it the natural home for this campaign. The billboard's prominent location ensures maximum visibility during the festive period when many venues rely on increased footfall to survive.
The campaign rallies support ahead of Independent Venue Week (26–31 January 2025), during which The Canteen will host gigs celebrating grassroots artists.
"Independent Venue Week is about more than just putting on gigs," The Canteen's team emphasised. "It's about reminding people that these spaces are essential cultural hubs. If they close, we don't just lose venues – we lose a home for artists and our local music scene."
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